By Rich Wicks | Times Vedette

Celebrate the New Year with a First Day Hike at Springbrook State Park

Join the staff of Springbrook State Park on a free, guided hike on New Year’s Day. Hikers will meet at 1 p.m. outside the park office, for a 2-mile hike led by park staff. 

Hikers can expect to be surrounded by the quiet beauty of nature in winter, and experience spectacular views, beautiful settings and the cultural treasures offered by Iowa’s state parks. 2026 will bring the 100-year anniversary of Springbrook State Park. Hikers will be invited to enjoy cookies and hot chocolate afterwards. 

Springbrook State Park is located at 2437 160^th Road, Guthrie Center. 

For details about First Day Hikes in Iowa Parks, visit www.iowadnr.gov/firstdayhikes.

Community Meal in Redfield Jan. 5

From 4:30 top 6:30 p.m. on Monday, Jan. 5, everyone is invited to a freewill donation community meal at the Redfield American Legion building, 1116 Thomas St., sponsored by the Redfield Fire Department. The Jan. 5 meal will include backdraft baked ziti, flashover salad, fireline breadsticks, and firefighters’ favorite desserts.

By Rich Wicks | Times Vedette

Many local churches are holding special services for Christmas and New Year’s. Below is a partial listing. Additional services or updates can be sent to rich@gctimesnews.com.

Wednesday, Dec. 24

• Christmas Eve Service, 5 p.m. at Casey United Methodist Church, 100 E. Second St.
• Christmas Eve Service, 5 p.m., at Immanuel Lutheran Church, 713 North 12^th, Guthrie Center.
• Christmas Eve Service, 6:30 p.m. at Bagley United Methodist Church, 401 Main St.
• Christmas Eve Service, 5 p.m. at Casey United Methodist Church, 100 East Second St., Casey.
• Christmas Eve Service, 7 p.m. at St. Thomas Lutheran Church, 2106 Highway 4, Panora.
• Christmas Eve Service, 6 p.m. at Panora Christian Church, 102 E. Church St., Panora.
• Christmas Eve Service, 7 p.m. at First Presbyterian Church, 701 State St. in Guthrie Center.
• Come and Go Communion “self-serve” and meditation time, 6-11 p.m., First Christian Church,105 North Fourth St. in Guthrie Center.
• Christmas Eve mass will be held at St. Mary Catholic, 603 Main St., Guthrie Center at 4 p.m., at St. Patrick Catholic, 214 Prairie St., Bayard at 5:30 p.m.; and at St. Cecilia Catholic Church, 220 North First St., Panora at 7:15 p.m.

Christmas Day, Dec. 25

Christmas mass will be held at 9 a.m. at St. Cecilia Catholic Church, 220 North First St., Panora.

New Year’s Eve, Dec. 31

Solemnity of Mary Vigil at 6:30 p.m. at St. Cecilia Catholic Church, 220 North First St., Panora.

New Year’s Day, Jan. 1

Solemnity of Mary at 9 a.m. at St. Cecilia Catholic Church, 220 North First St., Panora.

By Rich Wicks | Times Vedette

Many local churches are holding special services for Christmas and New Year’s. Below is a partial listing. Additional services or updates can be sent to rich@gctimesnews.com.

Wednesday, Dec. 24

• Christmas Eve Service, 5 p.m. at Casey United Methodist Church, 100 E. Second St.
• Christmas Eve Service, 5 p.m., at Immanuel Lutheran Church, 713 North 12^th, Guthrie Center.
• Christmas Eve Service, 6:30 p.m. at Bagley United Methodist Church, 401 Main St.
• Christmas Eve Service, 5 p.m. at Casey United Methodist Church, 100 East Second St., Casey.
• Christmas Eve Service, 7 p.m., at St. Thomas Lutheran Church, 2106 Highway 4, Panora.
• Christmas Eve Service, 7 p.m. at First Presbyterian Church, 701 State St. in Guthrie Center.
• Come and Go Communion “self-serve” and meditation time, 6-11 p.m., First Christian Church,105 North Fourth St. in Guthrie Center.
• Christmas Eve mass will be held at St. Mary Catholic, 603 Main St., Guthrie Center at 4 p.m., at St. Patrick Catholic, 214 Prairie St., Bayard at 5:30 p.m.; and at St. Cecilia Catholic Church, 220 North First St., Panora at 7:15 p.m.

Christmas Day, Dec. 25

Christmas mass will be held at 9 a.m. at St. Cecilia Catholic Church, 220 North First St., Panora.

New Year’s Eve, Dec. 31

Solemnity of Mary Vigil at 6:30 p.m. at St. Cecilia Catholic Church, 220 North First St., Panora.

New Year’s Day, Jan. 1

Solemnity of Mary at 9 a.m. at St. Cecilia Catholic Church, 220 North First St., Panora.

By Rich Wicks | Times Vedette

Extended shopping hours

To allow holiday shoppers the chance at those last-minute purchases, the following businesses are extending hours as shown:

• Strawberry Patch, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
• Tractor Supply Company, 8 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Paint your own mug Dec. 22

Art on State (320 State St. in Guthrie Center) will host a “Paint your own mug” event from 6-8 p.m. on Monday, Dec. 22. Cost is $10 per person. Adults and kids 11 or older are welcome. Hot chocolate will be available.

Celebrate the New Year with a First Day Hike at Springbrook State Park

Join the staff of Springbrook State Park on a free, guided hike on New Year’s Day. Hikers will meet at 1 p.m. outside the park office, for a 2-mile hike led by park staff. 

Hikers can expect to be surrounded by the quiet beauty of nature in winter, and experience spectacular views, beautiful settings and the cultural treasures offered by Iowa’s state parks. The year 2026 will bring the 100-year anniversary of Springbrook State Park. Hikers will be invited to enjoy cookies and hot chocolate afterwards. 

Springbrook State Park is located at 2437 160^th Road, Guthrie Center. 

For details about First Day Hikes in Iowa Parks, visit www.iowadnr.gov/firstdayhikes.

Midwest Partnership annual dinner Jan. 29

Reservations are now being accepted for Midwest Partnership’s annual dinner. The event will be on Thursday, Jan. 29 at the Casey Community Center. Social hour begins at 5:30 p.m., with dinner at 6 p.m., followed by the program at 6:30 p.m. Cost is $32 per plate. Reservations can be made by emailing info@midwestpartnership.com

By Rich Wicks | Times Vedette

Many local churches are holding special services for Advent, Christmas and New Year’s. Below is a partial listing. Additional services or updates can be sent to rich@gctimesnews.com.

Wednesday, Dec. 17

Advent services at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 10 and Wednesday, Dec. 17 at Immanuel Lutheran Church, 713 North 12^thSt., Guthrie Center.

Wednesday, Dec. 24

• Christmas Eve Service, 5 p.m. at Casey United Methodist Church, 100 E 2^nd
• Christmas Eve Service, 5 p.m., at Immanuel Lutheran Church, 713 North 12^th, Guthrie Center.
• Christmas Eve Service, 6:30 p.m. at Bagley United Methodist Church, 401 Main St.
• Christmas Eve Service, 5 p.m. at Casey United Methodist Church, 100 East Second St., Casey.
• Christmas Eve Service, 7 p.m., at St. Thomas Lutheran Church, 2106 Highway 4, Panora.
• Christmas Eve Service, 7 p.m. at First Presbyterian Church, 701 State St. in Guthrie Center.
• Come and Go Communion “self-serve” and meditation time, 6-11 p.m., First Christian Church,105 North Fourth St. in Guthrie Center.
• Christmas Eve mass will be held at St. Mary Catholic, 603 Main St., Guthrie Center at 4 p.m., at St. Patrick Catholic, 214 Prairie St., Bayard at 5:30 p.m.; and at St. Cecilia Catholic Church, 220 North First St., Panora at 7:15 p.m.

Christmas Day, Dec. 25

Christmas mass will be held at 9 a.m. at St. Cecilia Catholic Church, 220 North First St., Panora.

New Year’s Eve, Dec. 31

Solemnity of Mary Vigil at 6:30 p.m. at St. Cecilia Catholic Church, 220 North First St., Panora.

New Year’s Day, Jan. 1

Solemnity of Mary at 9 a.m. at St. Cecilia Catholic Church, 220 North First St., Panora.

By Rich Wicks | Times Vedette

Many local churches are holding special services for Advent, Christmas and New Year’s. Below is a partial listing. Additional services or updates can be sent to rich@gctimesnews.com.

Sunday, Dec. 14

• At 2 p.m., the public is invited to the Annual Sounds of Christmas event, featuring local church musicians, at Guthrie Center United Methodist Church, 405 Prairie St.
• There will be a Christmas program at First Baptist Church, 113 N. Fifth St., Guthrie Center, at 6 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 14.

Wednesday, Dec. 17

Advent services at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 10 and Wednesday, Dec. 17 at Immanuel Lutheran Church, 713 North 12^th St., Guthrie Center.

Wednesday, Dec. 24

• Christmas Eve Service, 5 p.m. at Casey United Methodist Church, 100 E 2^nd
• Christmas Eve Service, 5 p.m., at Immanuel Lutheran Church, 713 North 12^th, Guthrie Center.
• Christmas Eve Service, 6:30 p.m. at Bagley United Methodist Church, 401 Main St.
• Christmas Eve Service, 5 p.m. at Casey United Methodist Church, 100 East Second St., Casey.
• Christmas Eve Service, 7 p.m., at St. Thomas Lutheran Church, 2106 Highway 4, Panora.
• Christmas Eve Service, 7 p.m. at First Presbyterian Church, 701 State St. in Guthrie Center.
• Come and Go Communion “self-serve” and meditation time, 6-11 p.m., First Christian Church,105 North Fourth St. in Guthrie Center.
• Christmas Eve mass will be held at St. Mary Catholic, 603 Main St., Guthrie Center at 4 p.m., at St. Patrick Catholic, 214 Prairie St., Bayard at 5:30 p.m.; and at St. Cecilia Catholic Church, 220 North First St., Panora at 7:15 p.m.

Christmas Day, Dec. 25

Christmas mass will be held at 9 a.m. at St. Cecilia Catholic Church, 220 North First St., Panora.

New Year’s Eve, Dec. 31

Solemnity of Mary Vigil at 6:30 p.m. at St. Cecilia Catholic Church, 220 North First St., Panora.

New Year’s Day, Jan. 1

Solemnity of Mary at 9 a.m. at St. Cecilia Catholic Church, 220 North First St., Panora.